Eric eBook

“Not of such a fault, perhaps. But,”
he added solemnly, “there are many kinds of
temptation, Eric many kinds. And they are easy
to fall into. You will find it no light battle
to resist them.”

“Believe me, sir, I will try,” he answered
with humility.

“Jehovah-Nissi!” said Mr. Rose. “Let
the Lord be your banner, Eric, and you will win the
victory. God bless you.”

And as the boy’s graceful figure disappeared
through the door, Mr. Rose drew his arm-chair to the
fire, and sat and meditated long. He was imagining
for Eric a sunny future—­a future of splendid
usefulness, of reciprocated love, of brilliant fame.

CHAPTER XIII

THE ADVENTURE AT THE STACK

“Ten cables from where green
meadows
And quiet homes could be seen,
No greater space
From peril to peace,
But the savage sea between!”—­EDWIN
ARNOLD.

The Easter holidays at Roslyn lasted about ten days,
and as most of the boys came from a distance, they
usually spent them at school. Many of the usual
rules were suspended during this time, and the boys
were supplied every day with pocket-money; consequently
the Easter holidays passed very pleasantly, and there
was plenty of fun.

It was the great time for excursions all over the
island, and the boys would often be out the whole
day long among the hills, or about the coast.
Eric enjoyed the time particularly, and was in great
request among all the boys. He was now more gay
and popular than ever, and felt as if nothing were
wanting to his happiness. But this brilliant
prosperity was not good for him, and he felt continually
that he cared far less for the reproaches of conscience
than he had done in the hours of his trial; sought
far less for help from God than he had done when he
was lonely and neglected.

He always knew that his great safeguard was the affection
of Russell. For Edwin’s sake, and for shame
at the thought of Edwin’s disapproval, he abstained
from many things into which he would otherwise have
insensibly glided in conformation to the general looseness
of the school morality. But Russell’s influence
worked on him powerfully, and tended to counteract
a multitude of temptations.

Among other dangerous lessons, Upton had taught Eric
to smoke; and he was now one of those who often spent
a part of his holidays in lurking about with pipes
in their mouths at places where they were unlikely
to be disturbed, instead of joining in some hearty
and healthy game. When he began to “learn”
smoking, he found it anything but pleasant; but a
little practice had made him an adept, and he found
a certain amount of enjoyable excitement in finding
out cozy places by the river, where he and Upton might
go and lounge for an hour to enjoy the forbidden luxury.